New Farm Worker Disaster Relief Act Creates Dedicated Grant Fund for Weather and Pandemic Emergencies Starting in 2026

The aptly named Disaster Relief for Farm Workers Act establishes a crucial new safety net for one of the country’s most vulnerable workforces. Starting in fiscal year 2026, this bill mandates that the Secretary of Agriculture provide emergency grants to farm worker organizations whenever a “covered disaster” hits. Think of it as creating a permanent, dedicated relief fund that organizations can tap into immediately when farm workers lose income or jobs due to crises.

The New Disaster Definition: Beyond Floods and Fires

This isn’t just about hurricanes anymore. The bill defines a Covered Disaster broadly, covering everything from droughts, wildfires, and extreme heat to winter storms, hail, and even public health emergencies like pandemics. Crucially, the disaster isn't just defined by the weather event itself, but by the result: any event that causes farm workers to lose income, be unable to work, or face expected work shortages. This acknowledges that a health crisis or prolonged smoke exposure can be just as financially devastating as a flood for someone whose income relies on being physically present in the field.

Where the Money Goes and Why It Matters

When an eligible farm worker organization receives a grant, the money can be used for three main things. First, direct emergency relief for affected workers—cash assistance to help them cover lost wages or property damage. Second, the funds can be used for capacity building, meaning the organizations can invest in better systems and resources to deliver aid faster next time. Third, they can support essential infrastructure, like setting up temporary shelters or providing immediate emergency services. This flexibility is huge, especially since the bill specifies that the money does not expire once granted, allowing organizations to use every dollar effectively rather than rushing to meet a bureaucratic deadline.

Who Gets to Help, and the Catch

To be an Eligible Farm Worker Organization, you must either be a membership-based group for farm workers or a tax-exempt nonprofit (a 501(c)(3)) that already has experience supporting farm workers, including migrant or seasonal workers. This is where the bill gets specific: a farm worker is someone who has earned at least half their income or spent half their work time on a farm in the last two years. While establishing eligibility prevents fraud, the requirement for organizations to have existing “experience” might be a slight barrier for smaller, grassroots mutual aid groups that pop up organically after a disaster, potentially limiting who can access the funds.

Implementation and Real-World Impact

Before the grants start flowing, the Secretary has to create a plan to advertise this new relief program widely, ensuring eligible groups know it exists. The entire process is managed through the Under Secretary for Rural Development. For a migrant farm worker who suddenly finds their entire season wiped out by a wildfire or a severe heat wave, this bill moves relief from a potential, one-off handout to a mandatory, dedicated resource. It means that the organizations they rely on—the ones that know the community best—will have a reliable financial lifeline to deploy when they need it most, making the recovery process faster and more predictable for families already living paycheck to paycheck.